The Executive Secretary of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), Dr Rashid Mbaziira, has identified inadequate financing as a major barrier to achieving Africa’s water security and development goals.
Speaking at the ongoing AMCOW West Africa sub-regional meeting in Abuja, Mbaziira stressed that albeit efforts to implement the Africa Water Vision 2025, funding constraints have greatly limited progress.
He urged water sector advocates to engage finance and economic planning ministers in recognising the economic value of investing in water.
“We have not had sufficient financing for this sector for it to play its role in development. That is one area we need to address.
“We need to stop talking about water just as a right or as life, but also speak the economic language that realises its true value and raises its profile in national socio-economic planning,” he added.
According to him, the Africa Water Vision 2025, established in 2000, was aimed for equitable water resource management to drive development, reduce poverty, and protect the environment.
“However, as the target year arrives, AMCOW has been assessing achievements and challenges, Now we are in 2025, which was the target year for achieving that vision.
“We have assessed what we have accomplished, what remains unachieved, and what needs to be prioritised moving forward because, ultimately, water is key to our socio-economic development,” Mbaziira said.
The executive secretary noted that in 2022, African water ministers decided to use these assessments to shape a new vision aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Mbaziira recognised concerns over companies misusing water resources without adequate payment, stressing that the problem lies more in weak policies and enforcement than mere non-compliance.
“Is our policy environment strong enough to discourage such activities? Are we enforcing the laws we have in place? If it is still happening, then we as a sector have weaknesses to address,” he said.
He called for systemic reforms, including stronger regulations and a culture of voluntary compliance, to ensure sustainable water management.
“For me, that is why we are here, to find solutions that make water the public good it should be, driving us towards healthy and liveable environments and a responsible society”.
Mbaziira said the meeting is a key milestone on the roadmap to formulate the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy (post-2025 AWV&P).
He added that it would guide on the regional priorities and aspirations for the vision and policy framework to assure inclusive and climate resilient water security on the continent beyond 2025.
Founded in 2002, AMCOW promotes cooperation, security, economic development, and poverty eradication through effective water resource management and supply services.
In 2008, at the 11th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Sharm el-Sheikh, Heads of State and Government of the AU agreed on commitments to accelerate the achievement of water and sanitation goals in Africa.
AMCOW was mandated to develop and follow up an implementation strategy for these commitments. (NAN
